The countdown is on for the 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand.

The World Masters Games is the largest multi-sport event with over 55 sports on offer for participants. The Masters Games run from the Friday, 21 April to Sunday, 30 April with 25,000 athletes from 100 different countries coming together for the event.

The Touch Football component of the games will be held across four days from Saturday, 22 April to Tuesday, 25 April at Bruce Pulman Park, Papakura with Men’s, Women’s and Mixed competitions.

The goal of the World Masters Games is to encourage participation in sport. The Masters Games aim to promote friendship and understanding, along with competition, between mature sports people of all ages, race, gender, and religion or sport status.

Touch Football offers a wide range of grades with the choice to compete competitively or socially. The grades are as follows:

Masters Men Open: 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+

Masters Men Social: 30+, 40+

Masters Women Open: 27+, 35+, 40+, 45+

Masters Women Social: 27+

Mixed Men and Women Open: 35+

Mixed Seniors Open: Women 27+, Men 30+

Mixed Seniors Social: Women 27+, Men 30+; 40+

For more information or to register your team, please visit the event website – www.worldmastersgames2017.co.nz/.